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Is it unusual for a season to start out with no team enjoying a 4-0 (or 0-4) start? It just seemed a little weird that no team made it more than one game through the second series of the season with a perfect record.

I think Barry Zito is on his way to a few very good seasons, because he is learning to work within the constraints of his low velocity, instead of trying to force a few extra miles per hour at the expense of location. Who could have imagined that, in 2013, Zito would be more reliable than Lincecum?

I think Barry Zito is on his way to a few very good seasons, because he is learning to work within the constraints of his low velocity, instead of trying to force a few extra miles per hour at the expense of location.

Define "very good" -- his SF ERA+ of 92 is certainly useful for a durable starting pitcher. But I'm not seeing him getting any better than that at this point.

Define "very good" -- his SF ERA+ of 92 is certainly useful for a durable starting pitcher. But I'm not seeing him getting any better than that at this point.

I'd say number three starter on a decent staff, number four on a very good staff. I think he can push that ERA number closer to the mid-nineties in the next couple of seasons. His control is a little better. Also, just watching him pitch, it seems to me he's become a little more cerebral and aware of his stuff. I think he's going to end up being one of those wizardly left-handers who hang around forever.

BB-ref reports that he had a 4.15 ERA in 2010, good for a 94 ERA+. Then in 2012 he had a 4.15 ERA, good for an 84 ERA+. Did the NL get that much worse in that period, just because Prince Fielder left?

Average runs scored for the league went down. 2012 4.22 rpg vs 2010 4.33.

Not sure about any park effects that might have changed it also.

Matt Adams with a homerun to make it 6-0 Cardinals. He's doing his damndest to ensure he gets everyday playing time. He has 9 hits for the year(14 plate appearances) tied for second most on the team(most starters have 30+ plate appearances)

Dexter Fowler is out of the lineup for the Rockies this afternoon, which means that the only player who has started all nine games is Carlos Gonzalez. One thing you have to say about Walt Weiss, he is bound and determined to use his entire roster.

After hearing over and over again what a great park it is, I'm headed to Pittsburgh for the Friday game against the Reds (weather permitting). Looks like we can bring food into the ballpark, any suggestions for the area? Alternatively, anything in the park that we must see/eat? I watch Sunday Night Football so I am aware of Primanti Bros.

The O's needed an extra outfielder due to the injury to Nolan Reimold, and had too many relievers and wanted to keep Rule 5 pick TJ McFarland. They have been shopping Ayala for a few weeks now. Chris Dickerson replaces Ayala on the roster.

I wonder if it's such a great idea to give Zito this huge of a run support... will be interesting to see how he copes with it. My favorite ticking timebombs : Zito and Romo.
Then again, maybe someone just simply forgot to set the timers.

The slider is fine... more than that actually ! I hope it works for the next 3 years the way it HAS been working. I just wonder how long it could take for a batter to adjust and take that extra step toward homeplate, expect the slider and tee off ... on the whole it's just Z&R that ignite a certain sense of frightendom/scareicity in my gut.
For the time being, all is well.

In the past week I have seen more Little League style defensive brain farts than I recall happening in a similar period in the past.

- Espinosa's throw home getting nobody when he should have started a sure double play

- Rutledge(?) doing a similar thing yesterday against the Giants (youngster is his excuse?)

- a couple others that I have flushed from my brain to avoid meltdown

These are the kind of fundamentals that should be second nature at this level and should be reinforced by coaches during the season. I hope these guys straighten up and fly right. Am I expecting too much of Major League players? Am I misremembering and making too much of this?

Am I expecting too much of Major League players? Am I misremembering and making too much of this?

If you don´t expect the highest kind of professionalism and perfection of an MLB player, there would be something wrong.
Having played all my life though, and mostly at fixed positions, I have to admit that when suddenly at a different position, I seemed to have forgotten the most basic stuff, which would end in putting the blame on someone else instead of me.

So, a little mercy on thrown-in or switched players, but on the whole ... yes, it makes me meltdowny too !

I am watching the Tigers broadcast and at some point they put up a graphic showing three key additions for several teams. For the Angels, it went: Josh Hamilton, Tommy Hanson and then, the oddest possible choice, Brendan Harris.

I wonder if it's such a great idea to give Zito this huge of a run support... will be interesting to see how he copes with it. My favorite ticking timebombs : Zito and Romo.
Then again, maybe someone just simply forgot to set the timers.

Zito seems to do very well against the Rockies for some reason, even at Coors.

Hot in the city: White Sox catcher stands up between pitches to empty the sweat out of his helmet, I thought he was emptying a water bottle. Gnats flitting around the heads of the pitchers in our Nation's Crapital tonight. What did the groundhog say about an early Summer? Or is that something we ask the hedgehog???

You know, Harper may be too aggressive on the basepaths sometimes, but I have to love how he's ALWAYS trying to take the extra base. Harper just ran through a stop sign from the 3B coach and made it...easily.